The Tampa Bay Rays spoiled a tremendous outing by John Means after the Orioles’ ace exited the game in the fifth inning.
After Means allowed just one earned run through five innings, the Orioles’ bullpen allowed eight runs on six hits.
Baltimore reliever Connor Greene allowed two hits in the sixth including a go-ahead three-run home run to Rays’ slugger Nelson Cruz for his 22nd long ball of the year.
After a scoreless seventh inning from Cole Sulser, the game sharply went downhill when both, Paul Fry and Dillon Tate, failed to finish the eighth.
Between the two relievers, only one batter was retired while they allowed five runs on four hits.
Cruz crushes the ball
Rays’ trade acquisition Nelson Cruz had his best game at the plate with the club since coming over from Minnesota on July 23.
Cruz entered Friday’s game hitting just .184 with three home runs through 11 games with Tampa Bay.
The 41-year-old bruiser finished Friday night’s matchup with a 2-for-6 line including the aforementioned home run and an RBI double in the eighth. Cruz drove in five runs in the win.
Cruz’s five-RBI night ties his season-high from April 5th, when he recorded five RBIs on two home runs and a double against the Detroit Tigers.
The 17-year-veteran was named to his seventh MLB All-Star Game in 2021, hitting .282 with an OPS above .875.
Orioles’ promising future
Richie Martin
Three young Orioles had impressive performances despite the debilitating loss.
Shortstop Richie Martin recorded his first hit this season on Friday when he blasted an RBI double in the first inning to take the lead for the O’s.
Martin recorded a second RBI when he scored Anthony Santander on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth.
Before appearing in three games thus far this season, the 26-year-old spent some time in the majors with Baltimore in 2019, where he hit .208 with 31 RBIs.
In 2021, Martin had hit .190 between Rookie Ball, Double-A, and Triple-A in the O’s farm system before he was called back up in August.
Jorge Mateo
Another young talent was thrust into the game following an injury to Ryan Mountcastle.
Infielder Jorge Mateo entered the game in the third inning at third base as Maikel Franco slid over to first.
Mateo had appeared in 57 games this season batting .207 across 91 at-bats with the Padres.
After the Orioles claimed the 26-year-old speed demon off waivers, Mateo went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Friday.
One base hit was a deep RBI-triple to center field as Trey Mancini scored from second base.
The three-bagger was the first of Mateo’s career while the two-hit performance was his third of the season.
Marcos Diplan
The final young stud to make an appearance for Baltimore was pitcher Marcos Diplan.
Diplan entered the game in the eighth inning in relief for Dillon Tate and he impressed the crowd at Camden Yards.
In his MLB debut, Diplan tossed a hitless 1⅔ innings where he struck out three of the five batters faced.
Before making his debut, the 24-year-old pitcher out of the Dominican Republic had a record of 3-1 with Triple-A Norfolk. He recorded an ERA of 4.12 and a 1.627 WHIP.
Although his numbers were not extraordinary, Diplan’s pitching performance was a highlight of Friday’s loss.
What’s next
One of Baltimore’s best hitters, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, exited in the early innings of Friday’s loss.
The Orioles’ RBI leader was replaced after taking a hard tag on the head from Wander Franco on a steal attempt.
The 6’4” slugger recorded an RBI in his seventh straight game. It is Mountcastle’s second RBI streak to reach seven games in his rookie season.
This AL East series will continue on August 7th with Mountcastle’s availability up in the air.
Oriole Spenser Watkins (2-2, 3.81 ERA) will face off against Shane McLanahan (5-4, 3.74 ERA) of the Tampa Bay Rays in game two of this three-game series.
Baltimore will look to end their three-game skid as Tampa Bay tries to grab their third-straight win and increase their lead over the second-place Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
